Day two of Newmarket's Craven meeting boasts a fascinating card and Way Envoy (4.05) fancied to give trainer Aidan O'Brien a maiden success in the Craven Stakes. The well-bred War Front colt boasts arguably the strongest juvenile form in the line-up having chased home Estikhdaar in the Champagne Stakes at Doncaster before disappointing in the Breeders Cup thereafter.
Selected 2000 Guineas prices from BetVictor:
Gleneagles 5/2
Moheet 20/1
Nafaqa 33/1
War Envoy 33/1
Kool Kompany 50/1
White Lake 50/1
The colt made a pleasing return when finishing second in a listed race at Dundalk three weeks ago, which should have put him spot on for this afternoon's engagement. BetVictor make the mount of Ryan Moore a 4/1 chance to be successful this afternoon and 33/1 for 2000 Guineas success, however stablemate Gleneagles has been backed like he is head and shoulders above his peers and heads the market as the well-backed 5/2 ante-post favourite accordingly.
The Coolmore team have Cape Clear Island for the Tattersalls Millions 3-y-o Trophy however the colt must be opposed in favour of Rocky Rider (2.55) for the in-form Andrew Balding yard. The well-bred son of Galileo made light work of his opening handicap mark of 80 when bolting-up under regular partner Andrea Atzeni last month on his seasonal debut, doing so in the style of a progressive animal.
Jeremy Noseda's Grandeur was far from disgraced when failing to defend his Winter Derby crown last month at Lingfield, finishing third to Godolphin's colt and should be there or thereabouts in the Earl of Sefton Stakes over an extended nine furlongs. The gelding should appreciated the rattling underfoot conditions however so should Glory Awaits (4.40) who can land a nice pot for Kevin Ryan and Silvestre De Sousa in his new retainer for owner Sheikh Ahmad Abdulla.
The colt memorably chased home Dawn Approach in the Guineas two season's back however has held his form well since, scoring at Chester last term and showed he still retained plenty of ability when chasing home Tullius last month at Doncaster. That run should put him cherry-rip for a tilt at this lucrative prize and he can return to winning ways on his preferred forecast good-to-firm ground.
Mohatem (5.40) can land the closing 10f handicap for Barry Hills and Paul Hanagan, going some way to justifying his $800,000 price tag in the process. The Distorted Humour colt shed the maiden tag at the second time of asking, building on a promising fifth at Doncaster to score over the Rowley Mile in September and looks the ideal type to progress further now stepped up in trip. The colt boasts entries in both the Dante and the Derby and is 66/1 with BetVictor for classic success at Epsom in June.
Cheltenham's two-day April meeting concludes with an excellent seven-race card and Sire Collognes sure to be popular to land the feature after the Champion Trainer's success in the race last year with Mon Parrain. Providing his jumping holds up Philip Hobbs' Lamb Or Cod (3.50) is well handicapped to make a race of it however, winning by 18 lengths on the corresponding card last year and is a confident selection under to go in again from a 4lb higher mark under Richard Johnson.
Nicky Henderson's Polly Peachum couldn't have been more impressive when winning last year's Listed Mares' Hurdle and Broxbourne (3.15) can carry on the stable's excellent record in the race under Nico De Boinville. The mare has been brought along gently after being acquired from Mark Johnston on the flat, and with her hurdling has improving on all four starts over timber, could be chucked-in from an opening mark of 127.
Rolling Maul (4.25) battled well to score over C&D on New Year's Day and after following-up last month at Warwick can land the hat-trick in the 3m Handicap Hurdle. Peter Bowen's gelding hasn't always looked straightforward but remains in excellent fettle and despite a 12lb rise at the weights. The selection is clearly thriving at present and can go in again under the trainer's son and excellent 3lb Conditional Sean Bowen.
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